How to make time for a healthier lifestyle
For this, we decided to tackle a subject everyone struggles with (probably including yourself), "How to make time for a healthier lifestyle". I hear people say everyday "I just don't have any time! I don't have the time to exercise, to eat, to prepare my food, to sleep, to fill in my food and exercise diary". To me, this isn't strictly true. Think about it. We all have the same amount of time. It's all about how we use it.
In essence, it's NOT about getting more things "done". It's about accomplishing the important things. We have the same amount of time as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Albert Einstein had and look what the achieved. Ask yourself this question, "Is your life really richer for watching that TV show"? Let me tell you a story. My grandmother's favourite show, bless her soul, "Bold and the Beautiful" is a classic example. For her, two things had to happen each week or it would be the end of the world. The first thing was going along to church each Sunday which was fine but the other thing was that she had to watch "Bold and the Beautiful" on a daily basis. Now, you can not watch it for 6 months, come back and Ridge, Taylor and Brooke are still not getting along, nothing changes. Do you think this was a wise way for her to spend her time?
Here's some facts for you. Efficiency Expert Michael Fortino offers the following worrying scenario for the average life in the western world.
You will spend in a lifetime.....
Seven years in the bathroom
Six years eating
Five years waiting in line
Three years in meetings
Two years playing phone tag
Eight years opening junk mail
Six months sitting at red lights
Each day you will.....
Get interrupted 73 times
Take an hour of work home
Read less 5 minutes
Talk to your partner for four minutes
Exercise less than three minutes
Play with your kids less than 2 minutes
What's the solution?
Here it is..........Six tips to "Making to time for a Healthier Lifestyle"
1. Cook in Bulk
Spend an hour cooking food in bulk to last the whole week on your day off. Place in plastic containers and store in the fridge or freezer. If sealed, salads can last up to 3-5 days.
2. Buy in Bulk
Save time and money by making only one trip to the supermarket every week or two. Ensure you are having fresh fruit and vegetables by shopping twice a week at the local fruit shop.
3. Make an "exercise appointment"
At the start of the week, schedule in your diary when you want to exercise by blocking out time in your diary. Make it a weekly habit and people will soon realise that you are busy then and won't interrupt you. Treat this like any other important appointment and you will be more likely to keep it. What do you think will be more important in 5 years time: watching 'Neighbours' or your health?
4. Write down 5 things that must be done tomorrow
Before you go to bed, write down 5 things that must be done tommorrow. Once again, schedule them into your diary. This where you can prioritise your eating and exercise.
5. Prepare breakfast and lunch the night before
If you're nice and busy like the rest of us then it's almost impossible to prepare a healthy breakfast, pack food for the day and get ready for work. However, what if most of this was done the night before. Give it a go this week and see if you can make it a habit.
6. Plan your week at the beginning
Remember, "Those who fail to plan, plan to fail". Put some time aside to plan your week. Why not do it at the start of the week when you're fresh instead of trying to do it on a Thursday when you are starting to tire.When you are planning your week remember to put the most important tasks in your more productive times. If you are a morning person then schedule these tasks for the morning. However if you are a night owl, do your important tasks at night. Everyone is different so make sure you take this into account when planning your week.
Want to know more about time management?
A book that is recommended as one of the best resources on the subject of time management is "The 7 Habits of highly effective people" by Stephen R. Covey.
There you go, get those 6 simply steps ago today and reap the rewards of a healthier, fitter, happier you!
In essence, it's NOT about getting more things "done". It's about accomplishing the important things. We have the same amount of time as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Albert Einstein had and look what the achieved. Ask yourself this question, "Is your life really richer for watching that TV show"? Let me tell you a story. My grandmother's favourite show, bless her soul, "Bold and the Beautiful" is a classic example. For her, two things had to happen each week or it would be the end of the world. The first thing was going along to church each Sunday which was fine but the other thing was that she had to watch "Bold and the Beautiful" on a daily basis. Now, you can not watch it for 6 months, come back and Ridge, Taylor and Brooke are still not getting along, nothing changes. Do you think this was a wise way for her to spend her time?
Here's some facts for you. Efficiency Expert Michael Fortino offers the following worrying scenario for the average life in the western world.
You will spend in a lifetime.....
Seven years in the bathroom
Six years eating
Five years waiting in line
Three years in meetings
Two years playing phone tag
Eight years opening junk mail
Six months sitting at red lights
Each day you will.....
Get interrupted 73 times
Take an hour of work home
Read less 5 minutes
Talk to your partner for four minutes
Exercise less than three minutes
Play with your kids less than 2 minutes
What's the solution?
Here it is..........Six tips to "Making to time for a Healthier Lifestyle"
1. Cook in Bulk
Spend an hour cooking food in bulk to last the whole week on your day off. Place in plastic containers and store in the fridge or freezer. If sealed, salads can last up to 3-5 days.
2. Buy in Bulk
Save time and money by making only one trip to the supermarket every week or two. Ensure you are having fresh fruit and vegetables by shopping twice a week at the local fruit shop.
3. Make an "exercise appointment"
At the start of the week, schedule in your diary when you want to exercise by blocking out time in your diary. Make it a weekly habit and people will soon realise that you are busy then and won't interrupt you. Treat this like any other important appointment and you will be more likely to keep it. What do you think will be more important in 5 years time: watching 'Neighbours' or your health?
4. Write down 5 things that must be done tomorrow
Before you go to bed, write down 5 things that must be done tommorrow. Once again, schedule them into your diary. This where you can prioritise your eating and exercise.
5. Prepare breakfast and lunch the night before
If you're nice and busy like the rest of us then it's almost impossible to prepare a healthy breakfast, pack food for the day and get ready for work. However, what if most of this was done the night before. Give it a go this week and see if you can make it a habit.
6. Plan your week at the beginning
Remember, "Those who fail to plan, plan to fail". Put some time aside to plan your week. Why not do it at the start of the week when you're fresh instead of trying to do it on a Thursday when you are starting to tire.When you are planning your week remember to put the most important tasks in your more productive times. If you are a morning person then schedule these tasks for the morning. However if you are a night owl, do your important tasks at night. Everyone is different so make sure you take this into account when planning your week.
Want to know more about time management?
A book that is recommended as one of the best resources on the subject of time management is "The 7 Habits of highly effective people" by Stephen R. Covey.
There you go, get those 6 simply steps ago today and reap the rewards of a healthier, fitter, happier you!
Source...